The Blades and The Gauntlets [Vi x fem!oc]

Chapter XXIV: The Truth

The air outside the club was thick with smoke, neon lights flickering in erratic patterns above the entrance. The metallic tang of rust and sweat clung to every breath Mila took, though she tried to push it aside. Beside her, Jinx adjusted her oversized jacket, a glimmer of nerves hidden beneath her usual confidence.

"Alright, listen up," She said, her voice low and serious as they approached the entrance. She placed a firm hand on her shoulder, her pink eyes locking with Mila's. "You're still riding high on that truth serum. So, whatever you're feeling, thinking, or just about to blurt out, keep your damn mouth shut in there."

Mila smiled, a lighthearted laugh bubbling out. "Fine."

"Yeah, right." Jinx's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I give it five minutes."

"Ten." She countered with a smirk.

Inside the building, the atmosphere was full with a chaotic mix of shouting, smoke, and the rhythmic pounding of fists meeting flesh. The two girls maneuvered through the crush of bodies, the crowd's energy vibrating in the air around them. When they reached a spot with a clear view of the ring, Mila's gaze locked instantly on her best-friend, who was already deep in the fight.

Vi moved with determination, each punch landing with a bone-jarring impact. But to the practiced eye, something was off. Her stance was too rigid, her reactions a split second slower than they should have been. She was tired, and it was painfully obvious.

"Bet she wins." Mila said, more to herself than anyone else, as she watched Vi duck under a brutal swing.

"Are you seriously going to bet on her?" Jinx asked, a scoff in her tone. "Look at her. She's half-dead on her feet."

"She's not done yet," She stepped forward to the betting counter, where a burly man with a crooked nose raised an eyebrow at her. "One hundred." she said, placing a handful of coins on the counter.

He eyed her skeptically, then nodded. "On the black-haired?"

"Yes," Mila replied firmly, as much as she hated someone referring to her friend like that. "On Vi."

Beside her, Jinx snorted, her blue hair hidden. "You're such a masochist," she muttered. She reached into her own pocket and dropped a smaller pile of coins onto the counter. "Fifty that she goes down," she said with a casual shrug. "Nothing personal. Just business."

Mila glared at her. "Really?"

She smirked. "It'll make it all the sweeter when you lose."

"Not happening." Mila said through gritted teeth, her eyes never leaving the ring.

They found seats near the edge of the pit, where the noise was deafening. The crowd was on its feet, shouting and waving their hands as the fight raged on. Her heart pounded with every blow Vi took. She winced as Vi stumbled, catching herself just before hitting the ground.

"She's not looking good," Jinx said, her tone strangely soft. "You know that, right?"

"Shut up," Mila snapped, her eyes blazing. "She's fine."

"She's not," She answered quietly, all traces of humor gone. "She's barely holding on."

The blonde's fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. "Why is she still doing this?" she whispered, the words almost lost in the noise. "Why doesn't she stop?"

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. They watched in silence as Vi's opponent, a towering man with fists like sledgehammers, pressed the attack. She dodged, her movements slower now, each breath coming in ragged gasps. Mila felt a sickening twist in her gut. She knew Vi couldn't keep this up much longer.